Sting to give first concert at Bataclan after Paris attacks
November 4, 2016
British rock legend Sting will perform at the Bataclan theater in Paris on November 12, one day before the first anniversary of the "Islamic State" terror attack, he announced on his website.
In a statement, Sting said he hoped the event would both respect "the memory as well as the life-affirming spirit" of the victims.
He added that the November 12 concert would "reconcile" two important tasks: "First, to remember and honor those who lost their lives in the attack a year ago, and second, to celebrate the life and the music that this historic theater represents."
Tickets for the one-time concert go on sale November 8 and proceeds will be donated to two Paris charities that are working with the victims and their families.
A total of 130 people were killed on November 13, 2015, when several groups of gunmen and suicide bombers attacked various locations throughout Paris, including the Bataclan, the perimeter of the Stade de France stadium, and a series of cafes.
California-based band Eagles of Death Metal were performing in the Bataclan when gunman stormed the venue. The group, which lost a crew member in the attack, returned to Paris in February to perform an emotional show for survivors. However, frontman Jessse Hughes has received criticism for making anti-Muslim comments following the attack.
The Bataclan had reportedly been struggling to book a big-name band for the reopening, so Sting's commitment represents a major boost for the venue. The 65-year-old rocker rose to fame as frontman for The Police in the late 1970s and 80s before launching a solo career.
kbm/als (AFP, AP, Reuters)